The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (933 page)

you justices, that can so quickly punish

our crimes down below! But oh, poor Gloucester!

Did he lose his other eye?

Messenger

Both, both, my lord.

This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer;

'Tis from your sister.

He lost them both, my lord.

This letter, madam, begs for a quick reply;

it is from your sister.

GONERIL

[Aside] One way I like this well;

But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,

May all the building in my fancy pluck

Upon my hateful life: another way,

The news is not so tart.--I'll read, and answer.

Exit

In one way I'm pleased with this;

but now she is a widow, and has my Gloucester with her,

she could destroy all my fantasies

and ruin my life: in another way

the news is not so bad.–I'll read it, and answer.

ALBANY

Where was his son when they did take his eyes?

Where was his son when they blinded him?

Messenger

Come with my lady hither.

Coming here with my lady.

ALBANY

He is not here.

He is not here.

Messenger

No, my good lord; I met him back again.

No, my good lord; I met him going back.

ALBANY

Knows he the wickedness?

Does he know of the wickedness?

Messenger

Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd against him;

And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment

Might have the freer course.

Yes, my good lord; it was he who turned him in;

he left the house on purpose, so that they could have

more freedom to carry out their punishment.

ALBANY

Gloucester, I live

To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king,

And to revenge thine eyes. Come hither, friend:

Tell me what more thou know'st.

Exeunt

Gloucester, I dedicate my life

to thanking you for the love that you showed the King,

and to revenge your blinding. Come with me, friend:

tell me what else you know.

Enter KENT and a Gentleman

KENT

Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back

know you the reason?

Do you know why the King of France

has so suddenly gone back?

Gentleman

Something he left imperfect in the

state, which since his coming forth is thought

of; which imports to the kingdom so much

fear and danger, that his personal return was

most required and necessary.

He had left something in a bad way in his

country which he has thought of since he left;

it was a matter of such danger to the kingdom

that it was essential for him

to return and deal with it personally.

KENT

Who hath he left behind him general?

Who has he left behind in charge?

Gentleman

The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.

The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.

KENT

Did your letters pierce the queen to any

demonstration of grief?

Did your letters seem to cause the Queen

any unhappiness?

Gentleman

Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence;

And now and then an ample tear trill'd down

Her delicate cheek: it seem'd she was a queen

Over her passion; who, most rebel-like,

Sought to be king o'er her.

Yes, sir; she took them and read them in my presence;

now and then a great tear would roll down

her delicate cheek: it seemed that she was controlling

her feelings, which threatened to overcome her.

KENT

O, then it moved her.

Oh, so it moved her.

Gentleman

Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove

Who should express her goodliest. You have seen

Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears

Were like a better way: those happy smilets,

That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know

What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence,

As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief,

Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,

If all could so become it.

Not to anger: self-control and sadness fought

to give her the most beautiful expression. You have seen

sunshine and rain at the same time: her smiles and tears

were similar, but better: those little smiles

which played on her ripe lips seemed to be unaware

of the tears in her eyes, which fell from there

like pearls dropping from diamonds. To sum up,

everyone would love sorrow

if everybody showed it like this.

KENT

Made she no verbal question?

Did she ask no questions?

Gentleman

'Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of 'father'

Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart:

Cried 'Sisters! sisters! Shame of ladies! sisters!

Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night?

Let pity not be believed!' There she shook

The holy water from her heavenly eyes,

And clamour moisten'd: then away she started

To deal with grief alone.

Well once or twice she sighed the name ‘father’

as if it was breaking her heart:

she cried out, ‘Sisters! Sisters! You're a shame to womankind! Sisters!

Kent! Father! Sisters! What, in the storm? In the night?

For pity's sake let this be untrue!’ Then she burst out

with holy tears from her wonderful eyes,

and her words were lost in her sobs: then she went away

to deal with her grief in private.

KENT

It is the stars,

The stars above us, govern our conditions;

Else one self mate and make could not beget

Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?

It is the stars,

the stars above us, which control our nature;

otherwise two people could not breed

such different children. You haven't spoken to her since?

Gentleman

No.

No.

KENT

Was this before the king return'd?

Was this before the king returned?

Gentleman

No, since.

No, since.

KENT

Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i' the town;

Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers

What we are come about, and by no means

Will yield to see his daughter.

Well, sir, poor distressed Lear is in the town;

who occasionally, when he's in his senses, remembers

why we have come, and refuses

to see his daughter.

Gentleman

Why, good sir?

Why, good sir?

KENT

A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness,

That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her

To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights

To his dog-hearted daughters, these things sting

His mind so venomously, that burning shame

Detains him from Cordelia.

He is overcome with shame: his own unkindness,

that stripped her of his blessing, made her take

her chances abroad, gave her proper inheritance

to his dog hearted daughters, these things prick

his conscience so badly that a burning shame

keeps him from Cordelia.

Gentleman

Alack, poor gentleman!

Alas, poor gentleman!

KENT

Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?

Did you hear anything about Albany and Cornwall's armies?

Gentleman

'Tis so, they are afoot.

Yes, they are on the march.

KENT

Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear,

And leave you to attend him: some dear cause

Will in concealment wrap me up awhile;

When I am known aright, you shall not grieve

Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go

Along with me.

Exeunt

Well, sir, I will take you to our master Lear,

and leave you to look after him: I have an important purpose

which means I must remain disguised for a while;

when my identity is revealed, you will not regret

your friendship to me. Please, come

along with me.

Enter, with drum and colours, CORDELIA, Doctor, and Soldiers

CORDELIA

Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now

As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud;

Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,

With bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,

Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow

In our sustaining corn. A century send forth;